Authors notes

I plan this to be a long series, I appreciate any constructive criticism, my biggest problem was trying to convey how he's developed as a character vs being ooc, especially seeing as he doesn't have much dialogue. Laxus x Cana is definitely my otp, I read a Laxana fic a few months ago and it converted me. Please read and review but mainly enjoy!

-Jude

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima because if I did this would be cannon

Laxus tugged opened the door to the relatively pleasant bar "The Banshee's Inn". As soon as he walked in he noticed a familiar magic energy radiating from the corner of the bar. Cana? He thought to himself as his eyes locked on the mage drinking from a large barrel, staring at the cards laid in front of her. Did the old man send her to check up on me or…. He thought, moving into a corner himself, his eyes glued onto her back, looking for any suspicious behaviour. She didn't look tense, so she probably wasn't expecting a fight. She didn't look away from her cards very often and when she did, it wasn't for very long. He studied her, looking for some sort of sign. He noticed off hand that her hair had grown longer, and she had burns on her hands. As she shuffled and reshuffled her cards, every movement looked painful but she didn't let the discomfort show. He listened keenly as she continued to mumble under her breath, his pods turned off and in intense concentration he managed to discern "Stupid Gildarts" and "nearly died". When he was confident that she was at the pub for her own reasons he moved towards her, closing the distance in a few moments. He touched her arm hesitantly, she looked over her shoulder in disinterest. When she saw his face her eyes widened a little around the edges.

"You stalking me lightning boy?" she asked, confused at his sudden appearance.

"Yeah, cause if I decided to stalk someone it would be a drunk bitch like you" he growled, regretting approaching her.

"Awwww, like always Laxus your charm warms my heart, I'm surprised you could resist this long!" she laughed, a little tipsy, motioning towards the stool next to her. "Have a drink with me, tell me all about your marvellous travels." her request hung in the air as Laxus took the seat and motioned the bar tender over.

"Two barrels of mead" he requested pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket, he spared a disgusted glance in Cana's direction.

"As you wish sir." the bartender chirped, rolling over two small barrels.

"I meant the big ones." he said pointing to the large barrels leaning against the wall, his tone the usual arrogant cold snarl.

"Well you can have them if you can carry them." the bartender snapped, getting more than a little annoyed at the man's odd request.

"That won't be a problem." Laxus replied coolly, he got to his feet and lazily strolled over to the barrels, with one under each arm he returned to his seat. The bartender handed him a tankard nervously and moved away from the pair.

"Looks like they're all light weights around here." she said in a conspiring tone. "I've drunk three of those small barrels and the bartender has been avoiding me like the plague. You'd think he would be more accommodating, you know?" she muttered. Laxus leaned away from her, knowing her grog filching tactics full well. Her breath wafted across his face as she leaned heavily against him before pulling away, a fake smile plastered across her face.

"This sure aint Fairy Tail." he said, despising solitude enough to seek her company. He glanced at her again, wondering whether it was wiser to simply leave the bar now. Fairy Tail was behind him, shouldn't she be? Cana was obviously too caught up in her own thoughts to care about what he said. Too homesick to listen to his own warped reasoning he decided to stay and see what she was worth.

"Fairy Tail or not, there should be at least a little life in the place." she said glancing around, disappointed in her surroundings. "If such a good paying job wasn't in this ramshackle town I'd never have left the guild" she mumbled, staring into her half empty cup.

"It's a shit hole alright," he said, tipping his mug back and slamming it down on the bar dramatically. Cana didn't respond in any way, she was looking deep into her brew and let out a sad sigh before downing the rest of it.

"If I didn't know you any better I would think you were upset." he said gruffly, pouring more beer into his mug. Cana turned to study him.

"You know, I think you've changed, just a bit, you know?" she looked at him, her eyes drooping a little and her body swaying on her perch.

"And I think your drunk." he replied dryly, glad she didn't take the bait and start unloading her problems onto him, the beer was making him slip.

"Remember that time after I failed the S-class exam and-"

"Which time? There have been so many." he cut her off.

"The first time." Cana glared at him from behind her upturned glass. She rolled her eyes before continuing. "I snuck into the basement and grabbed those bottles of vodka." She frowned at her drink as an ugly thought crossed her face causing her to put down the cup. "You found me hiding out in the girls bathroom and took me down into the archives before anyone else found me." Cana smiled at him, knowing he wouldn't return it but still determined to prove her point.

"I didn't do anything wench, you shouldn't have followed me down there in the first place" he snapped, glaring at her.

"There's more to you than you'll admit, Sparky."

"Don't call me that." Laxus growled, well and truly sick of the old pet name. Cana didn't seem to even register his words as a confused expression befell her face. He was about to nudge her and insist that she erase that word from her memory when she turned to him.

"I never really thought about it before but why were you there?" Cana asked, intent despite intoxication. Laxus realised what she was asking but didn't want to admit the truth so he tried to outwit her- surely it wouldn't be hard, she was practically under the table.

"Where?" he asked, glancing away.

"In the girls bathroom." she replied, trying to search his face despite the efforts he put into shielding it from her.

"I wasn't, you were in the men's toilets." he lied smoothly.

"No I wasn't." she shook her head. "I remember reading Bisca's poem about Alzack. It was really funny, I can still remember it." Cana giggled to herself, swaying back and forth. Just a little longer Laxus thought, supressing his instincts which told him to just leave.

"What was it?" He asked, fairly sure it would work and he would be able to tune out while she rambled.

"My bullets are black- wait a second." Cana looked to Laxus, realising she was being scammed out of an answer. "Don't try to get out of it Sparky," Laxus scowled at the last word. "Why were you in the ladies?" she asked, willing herself to sober up. Laxus realised he wasn't going to get out of answering. He was torn between staying and cutting his losses, but the more he thought about it the more unattractive leaving became. He reasoned that he didn't owe Cana anything, he was no longer in Fairy Tail and even when he was….. But he just couldn't force himself from the chair. Defeated, he glanced at her, her chocolate eyes wide and bloodshot, her brown hair splayed out in odd directions.

"I was….." he stopped, thinking of how best to say the inevitable, even if he lied, in this state she would surely pick it up. "looking for Bixlow." Cana's brow creased in confusion.

"But why would Bixlow be in the ladies toilets?" she asked, her mind slowed by the beer.

"He was going through a faze…" Laxus replied dryly, slightly ashamed at his friend's behaviour.

"But, don't the toilets and dorms have gender specific spells on the doors?" she asked.

"Well the dorms protective runes are a lot more complicated than that but the guilds toilets are very non-specific and cancel out depending on the emotional state and amount of people in the guild." Laxus explained, knowing more than most people on the topic as the Masters grandson. "But anyway, who said anything about the door." he said, downing his drink.

"But what was he doing? I still don't get it." Cana asked, perplexed.

"You really must be drunk…. Do I have to spell it out for you?" he asked, flushing slightly. Cana nodded drunkenly, pushing aside her empty cup, and reaching for a glass of water.

"He watched…" Laxus paused, not sure how to say it delicately so that she would understand. "He watched women going to the toilet while hanging from the roof." He gushed, hoping she heard so he wouldn't have to say it again. Then it struck him that he had actually let her corner him into a conversation. He let it go for the moment, not wanting to admit his feelings about seeing an old guild-mate while in this state.

"Yeah, I got that much. I might be drunk but I'm not stupid, despite your protests to contrary." she sipped wearily at her water. "But what was the point of watching old bitties shitting?" she laughed uncontrollably at the stupidity of it all. Laxus hid a secret smile behind his glass.

"Yeah well, he didn't see it that way." Laxus smiled at Freed's expression when he discovered where Bixlow had been disappearing to. The three of them vowed never to tell Evergreen on pain of death. Cana kept laughing well after the joke stopped being funny but Laxus was too drunk to muster the effort needed to complain about it.

"So, what have you been doing?" Cana asked, curious as to how he would react. Laxus stiffened, angry that she had brought it up. He was actually starting to enjoy himself and forget about…..everything. She just had to bring up his expulsion. Why couldn't she just let him enjoy this? The emptiness in his chest began to throb as the days and months away from the guild flooded to his mind.

"What would a drunk bitch like you wanna know about it?" he snarled, hunching his shoulders subconsciously. Cana frowned, sad that he was going to go down this path. They weren't that different, both stubborn and complicated and most of all, hidden. Laxus hid behind his scowl and Cana hid behind her booze. Cana sighed, preparing herself mentally for the short trek back to the inn. "Why don't we talk about you?" he snapped, she thought he seemed similar to a caged animal that had just been wounded, unable to run, unable to heal. "Which guy is it this week?" he sneered, saying the first thing that came to mind that would get under her skin. "Last I heard Macco was looking for a new tart to mess around with and by the look of things you fit the bill." Cana's head snapped around from where she was fiddling with her purse. Laxus' antics hit a raw nerve. Macco was like a father to her and the feelings she felt towards him mingled with her anxieties about her real father made the mention of his name all the more unforgivable.

"What did you say?" she growled, jumping down from her stool and sliding right up in his face. Their chests we pushed together as Cana fumed.

"I said, when are you going to give the whole daddy daughter thing you've got going a rest and let him jump your bones- everyone knows that's all he's waiting for…" Laxus growled, smirking at the reaction he was able to get from her. Cana shook with fury, as soon as the words sunk in all the compassion in the world didn't save Laxus from Cana's hand cracking across his face.

Laxus' head snapped to the side as Cana slapped him. Burning pain erupted across his cheek making him gasp.

"Gods woman! Are you insane?!" Laxus exclaimed, staring at her wide eyed. Cana didn't give him the chance to say another word, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down to be level with her face with surprising strength.

"My name isn't woman or drunk bitch, it's Cana." she shook him, grabbing hold of his collar with two hands. "Got it?" Laxus didn't respond, he just looked at her in shock. "And you know, after everything you've done… Even after what happened to Juvia, I decided to give you a go when most of the guild would have left or tried to cut you down where you stand." she snarled but Laxus has gained back a little of his composure and cut her off.

"I aint looking for charity." he snapped.

"I wasn't giving you any you fool!" she snapped back, tired of his games. "I was spending time with my nakama whom I've missed," she stepped forward to emphasise her point, now centimetres from his face. "but you have to carry on with this - this shit!" she stared into his grey eyes, stopping anything he was about to say. She let go of his collar dramatically, waiting a moment before stepping back. "But I'm not some dog who you can kick and will come crawling back, thanking you for it, Laxus. I'm done with you." Cana said in a level voice, fishing out a note from her purse, slamming it on the bar and storming out.

Laxus watched in shock as she strode away, ashamed at his actions. He ran over to the bartender and quickly said that he would be back for the barrels before running out after her. He launched himself through the doors, glancing around, trying to find her familiar form.

"Cana, wait." Laxus yelled, quickening his pace to a sprint. He reached out his hand, trying to grasp her arm but she smacked it away.

"Just leave me alone Laxus, don't you think you've said enough?" she snapped trying to make an escape as quickly as possible. "I never should have spoken to you in the first place."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he stopped, spinning her around to face him. "Look, you had your turn." he growled, forgetting that he was the reason he was in this predicament. "You think it's been easy on my own? I was expelled from Fairy Tail! I have no one!" he yelled, not going to let her leave without some sort of…. understanding as to what he was going through every day.

"Yeah, and whose fault is that Laxus? We were your guild mates!" she struggled, pulling away from him. "You used Fairy Law. We all saw what spell can do when Phantom attacked us. And when that happened what did you say?"

Laxus' face flushed at the memory of Cana and Mira contacting him for help. "It's over Laxus, I'm not going to be your pincushion anymore. Just leave me alone." Cana walked up the steps of the inn she was staying at, glad to get away.

"Fine." he growled, heading back to the pub, lightning snapping at his fists. Laxus knew he was in the wrong but it was still hard to stop the unending chorus of insults he could have said but didn't running through his head that were fighting to drown out the shame swelling within him.

The last dregs of mead ran down Laxus' throat, he sighed looking towards the grandfather clock sitting in the corner of his room. It chimed quarter to four. He had been mulling over whether or not to apologise to Cana before she left town, not comfortable with how he left things. If this was the last time she would ever see him, he didn't want her to curse his name. Laxus stumbled to his feet, moving towards the door, falling over his bag he realised that perhaps he was a little too drunk to make things any better and would probably be turned away before he could say anything intelligible, let alone be able to say anything intelligible in the first place.

"Hmmm" he mumbled as he dragged himself into the bathroom, positive a shower would help sober him up. Tossing away his clothes he let the cold water run over his toned body, goosebumps running up and down his arms. When Laxus was confident he was sober enough to say what he wanted to say without her turning him away at the door he exited the shower and dressed in his cleanest shirt. He slipped out of his room, locking the door behind him. He walked down the worn track he knew would take him into town. When Cana's inn came into view Laxus hardened his resolve to wait as long as he had to till she appeared. He slumped on the granite stairs, prepared for any eventuality.

"That's everything." Cana said aloud, zipping up her suitcase after doing her last check. She grabbed the retractable handle, pulling it behind her as she exited the room. The foyer was flooded with morning sunlight emanating from the open windows at the inn's front which led directly onto the main road, a fact Cana was thankful for. Before handing her key in to the front desk she peered out the window in curiosity, drinking in the scene before her for hopefully the last time. Cana smiled to herself which froze on her lips as her eyes locked onto a blonde mage sitting on the steps of the inn, his eyes closed and head resting on the railing. He ran a hand through his hair as Cana took a quick step away from the window, eyes wide.

"Crap!" What am I going to do? She thought frantically, putting her key on the desk. It's not like I can avoid him, he's taking up the entire bloody stairway! She began to pace, wringing her hands. So what, I had a drink with him, we fought, nothing new there. What could he possibly have to say to me after his performance last night? She glanced towards the door. I'm just going to have to face him…. With very shaky determination Cana opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. At the sound of her voice Laxus' eyes snapped open, he turned his head towards her, pulling himself up onto his feet. He met her surprised stare.

"I just wanted to apologise," Cana openly gaped at the man before her. "I was being a complete dick and you didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of that." Laxus was obviously finished as he stared up at Cana, waiting for her reply.

"Mira? Is that you? Why…." Cana let the question hang, in complete shock.

"It's not Mira you moron- Cana, it's me." Laxus snapped, quickly righting his slip up, growing impatient.

"Prove it." she said sceptically. He seemed genuine but this was way too out of character for him. Maybe being expelled from the guild really had changed him for the better? But this was too much, it was like he was a completely different person.

"Cana" he said, not impressed. Laxus sighed as she raised an eyebrow. "Fine, umm," he glanced around, trying to think of something to say. "When I was sixteen I ran away from the guild after the fiasco with the Sinco Island job. You found me before anyone else realised I was gone and convinced me to come back. Happy?" he asked. She frowned, her eyes searching his face.

"How did I get you to come back?" she asked, not letting her eyes leave his face as she stepped down the stairs towards him, the sun shining through his hair caused her to squint.

"You said that seeing as I didn't have a reason for staying in Fairy Tail you'd lend me yours."

"And?" Laxus shuffled his feet, feeling awkward before her gaze.

"You told me your father is Gildarts and that you stayed for the time you are strong enough to tell him you're his daughter." Cana's mouth dropped open and her eyes widened.

"Wow, I can't believe you still remember that." she said, walking down the rest of the steps. He grunted, waiting for the answer to his apology. "Don't worry about last night, I was over emotional anyways." she dismissed him with a wave of her hand and a smile. Cana began walking down the road with Laxus in toe.

"When's your train?" Laxus asked, his usual blank scowl shaping his face. Laxus was desperately trying to draw out their time together, realising how much he genuinely enjoyed her company.

"In a couple of hours." she said dismissively, staring at him with a questioning expression.

"So why are you leaving now? It won't take you that long to walk to the station, half an hour maximum." he said, not meeting her gaze while keeping in step beside her.

"Well let's just say after the week I've had I'm willing to sit at the station for as long as it takes." she said, determination saturating her voice.

"It couldn't have been that-" Cana's glare could have frightened a dragon into submission, causing Laxus to gulp subconsciously.

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence." Cana began to pick up the pace, lengthening her stride.

"How about we grab some late breakfast and talk about it?" he offered lamely, hoping she didn't see his desperation. She stopped mid stride and spun to stare suspiciously at Laxus face.

"Why the sudden desire for my company bug-zapper." she snapped.

"Don't call me that." His signature scowl reappeared.

"Or what? You going to put on your really scary face?" she snapped walking away. Laxus stood, dumbstruck with the sudden turn of events. What did he say wrong this time? But then again what did he ever say right?

"Is it so wrong for me to want to spend some time with an old friend and pretend like everything is back to how it was?" he called, desperate for something to hold onto. It didn't really matter that it was Cana, all that mattered was she was a Fairy Tail Mage. Cana stoped, her shoulders relaxed as she chanced a look back. Laxus looked so different from their time together at the guild, somehow…. diminished. She couldn't help the twinge in her heart as her hand brushed the Fairy Tail insignia on her torso. She turned to face him.

"Your shout?" he smiled, glad to finally have something to work with.

"Depends on what you have in mind." he called out to her as she paced towards him.

"Know any good café's 'round here?" Cana asked, looking around.

"Café's no, pubs yes." Laxus replied. He started walking down side streets, glancing over his shoulder every once in a while to make sure Cana didn't lose track of him. Their walk passed in comfortable silence, almost like the rare occasions they ran into each other on jobs. Soon they were in front of a small building, its walls were crumbling ever so slightly and the roof had large holes and seemed to be infested with sparrows. Cana grabbed Laxus' arm, raising an eyebrow.

"It isn't what it appears to be." he mumbled, glancing around. He knocked three times then placed his palm on the door, releasing magical energy into it. A click sounded and the door swung open easily, leading to a suspicious looking stairwell lit only by candle light.

"Ladies first." Laxus grinned at her expression, but inside he was at war with himself- why was he doing this? Why didn't he just leave after he made amends? Why did he want to make amends in the first place? Cana wearily made her way down the gloomy staircase, her suitcase clacking behind her. After a few moments a large source of light came into view. Cana was relieved to see an impressive underground bar come into view filled with what could only be a hoard of mages.

In one corner a group of middle-aged men drank from half empty tankards, playing a game of poker. The dealer shuffled the cards by sending them flying above the players heads, spinning and rearranging the cards until they finally came down to rest in his outstretched palm. At the bar a man created a green flame, manipulating it into a heart shape for the lady sitting next to him. She smiled, her multi-coloured scarf began to unravel and re-knit into the word "BYE". Cana smiled to herself, glad to be around fellow mages. Laxus placed his hand on her back, gently guiding her towards the bar. Laxus signalled the barman over, his tattooed form intimidating and tough from years of dealing with mages.

"No new jobs that aren't on the board already, Laxus." the man said sternly, taking in Laxus and Cana.

"I was hoping to order some food and beer, what are you offering today?" Laxus asked, leaning forward.

"Fish and chips."

"Great, could I get two servings of that and a barrel of beer."

"Will that be all?" he asked tiredly and Laxus nodded in response. The tender moved away towards a door at the opposite side of the bar from the pair. Laxus sat awkwardly leaning on the bar, at a loss for words now that they had arrived here. He glanced at Cana, she was looking around, obviously amused with something that caught her attention. Laxus realised that she had been in the area on a job, asking about that would be a safe ordinary question to ask.

"So, are you going to tell me about this job or are you just going to drink me out of house and home?" he asked, trying to keep it light.

"It's a long story." Cana sighed while raising her eyebrows, not convinced of his sincerity.

"I've got enough time." he smiled at her, it was contagious and soon she was smiling too, not sure how he was keeping up this persona but happy enough to indulge him

"Ok, well I found this request on the request board to rid a village of a league of demonic spirits that were ravaging its people. It sounded a bit involved knowledge wise but the reward was big and I know a fair bit on the subject so I decided to give it a go." Cana looked tired as she began to recount the events of the past week.

"So far so good." Laxus said, eyeing the bartender who used gravity magic to float their two meals and the barrel of beer towards them. Laxus caught the platters first, placing one in front of Cana and one in front of himself. Next came the barrel which he hoisted onto his shoulder and then carefully lowered it onto the bar. Cana grabbed two mugs from under the bar while the barman was in the kitchen. She clutched the tap, filling her mug.

"So I arrived at the station in town, everything was going well. The village itself is out to the east so I got a lift with a farmer in his cart. Anyway, so I get to the village and this is on Monday." she glanced at Laxus to make sure she had his attention, he nodded while shovelling chips into his mouth. "The village itself is mainly shanties and shacks other than the main street which has a maximum of about eight crumbling brick houses. I found the man who put out the request, he lived in the best looking house. So he tells me this story of how this place used to be a thriving farming town not the shabby village it is today blah blah blah." she downed a large portion of her drink.

"He then takes me to meet his daughter who he believes at night is being possessed by Satan." She glanced at Laxus for effect. " So I start talking to the girl, asking a few questions, trying to get a feel for who she is and then I pull out my cards and perform her fortune, if there was demonic forces it would have shown up there but there wasn't even a hint of anything like that. That's when I started to get a bad feeling. So I asked some more questions. By this time it was starting to get late so I said that I had to leave to get back to my Inn, anyway I set up surveillance lacrima around the main street of town. By nightfall I was in my tent with the screen flicking through the different larcima. About an hour after sunset a bunch of people started walking around showing animal behaviours." she shivered, eating a few chips she continued.

"There were multiple explanations for what was going on but after talking to the girl I ruled out most possession types. So the next day I walked around, asking people questions but it all seemed to lead back to the request guy, Mr Barton. So I approached him again and he suddenly started asking me all these personal questions, I knew I had to get out of there so I made up an excuse and headed back to my tent, ready to leave. But of course when I arrived I walked right into a trapping magic circle." Laxus' eyes widened. Laxus had planned on tuning out while she muttered about her probably unremarkable quest but as he listened he became fascinated somewhere along the way.

"I was tied with enchanted rope that cancelled out my magic and they brought me to the Barton guy. Turns out he was running a female mage trafficking scam. And the 'possessed' people were actually animals which he used his marionette magic to turn into people. So I was in it deep and I thought I was done for. Fairy Tail would notice when I didn't return but it would be too late by then. So I tried not to panic, but there wasn't any way out. They took me down to the cellar and left. After about two hours of bugs crawling all over me and reading all the creepy shit carved into the walls with god knows what I heard a voice in my head, it was the girl's. Turns out she uses telepathy magic. She offered me a choice, she would help free me and we'd take down her dad if I took her with me away from there. I obviously agreed. She told me to wait, that an opportunity would come on Thursday morning but I would have to be prepared to put it all on the line." Cana sighed, swirling her drink, looking sadly at her burnt hands.

"Is that how you hands got burnt?" Laxus asked, unsure of how to approach the situation. Cana looked up to see his mortified expression, one she'd only ever seen once before when they were very young.

"Don't look at me like that! You asked to hear what happened." she said smiling sadly. "No, uh, waiting till Thursday wasn't as simple as it sounded, you see they brand their slaves before sale. While I was sleeping, only the gods know how I fell asleep, I was tied to a chair." she gulped. "A man I hadn't seen before came in, it was obvious he wasn't a puppet by how expertly he prepared the brand. They were going to put it over my guild mark. I started to struggle, after a while the man with the brand said that I wasn't leaving the basement without some sort of brand and if I didn't stop struggling I was going to end up with very" she paused, heat rising to her cheeks as her eyes began to water. She dashed the tears away with the back of her hand. She glanced around to make sure no-one was looking. "ugly hands, seeing as he couldn't damage the merchandise anywhere noticeable. He said that for the work I was heading to my hands weren't needed." she took another gulp of beer. Laxus took her mug and filled it to the brim before handing it back to her, feeling worse for how he had treated her the night before.

"So he trashed my hands with a hot poker. Not my happiest moment but it was over relatively quickly. He said he'd be back the next day to brand me properly. Once he left the girl spoke to me again, she said to sit tight and she would come and get me during the night. So I waited and waited and she eventually came at what I guessed to be about midnight. Her plan was simple, untie me, give me my cards and I was to act as a bodyguard so we could escape to the police headquarters about fifteen kilometres away. We had to travel through shrub and farming crops. At about dawn they first started coming after us. Kelly, the girl, created a few diversions but we still had a about half a kilometre before we would be safe. We had a quick fight which was really just as many random diversions as I could throw till we were safe. Anyway we eventually got to the station and by Friday morning a group of mages from the magic council who were staking Barton out arrested about fifty men." Cana drained the last from her mug and handed it to Laxus.

"So what happened to the girl?" Laxus asked, confused about several parts of the story.

"I contacted Fairy Tail and Lucy, Levy and Lisanna came and picked her up." Cana turned to her meal, tucking in to the now semi cold fish.

"If she wanted to escape why didn't she contact you mentally earlier?" he asked, draining his own mug.

"She was under watch by her father who knew of her abilities, and she wanted to make sure I was strong enough to protect the pair of us before she risked her neck, though she didn't say it that way."

"What about Lisanna, I thought she was dead." Laxus picked up on the use of Lisanna's name a little late but was shocked none the less.

"Apparently she was transported to another dimension before she died and has been living there ever since, but that's a story for another time." she smiled.

"Is it really her though, I mean, is she the same person?" Laxus was stunned but her cool demeanour told him she wasn't lying.

"Seems like it, though bigger of course."

"Right, but nothing you've said so far explains why you didn't leave with Kelly." he asked, now curious.

"Well, while Kelly was giving all the juicy details about her dad's business to the police, and explaining the papers she managed to smuggle out with her, I had a lot of spare time on my hands. So, I dealt my fortune and it said that I needed to stay and something would be set in motion by that choice. You can't blame me for being a little curious." she answered, smiling into her drink, Laxus audibly choked on his. He glanced at the clock.

"Wow, we've been here longer than I thought. What time does your train leave?"

"Four" Laxus stoped to look back at Cana.

"Four?" he snapped incredulously, realising she was going to wait for six hours at the train station when she was trying to brush him off earlier. But then again it was much deserved.

"That's what I said isn't it?" Cana snapped, not letting her embarrassment show.

"Whatever, it's half past one now, and it takes about an hour to get to the station from here so we should leave at about half past two."

"Ok, I'll let the 'we' thing go this time, that means we've got an hour to kill, how about I read your fortune to fill in the time?" Cana asked, hoping the answer would be yes.

"No, you know how I feel about your fortunes." Laxus frowned, remembering the phony fortune she gave him that he would one day marry Freed, when he was thirteen.

"Fine then, any better ideas. I don't want to sit around doing nothing but drink for an hour, I can do that anywhere." She sighed dramatically, slugging down another mug full of beer, secretly surprised at his friendly charm.

"How about we play truth or dare like we did when we were kids?" Laxus offered, not particularly interested in what they did, content with being in a friends company for the first time in months. Not that he hadn't run into Fairy Tail members in the past, but when he did he chose to avoid them and if they realised he was around they didn't seek him out. Except for that one time Salamander started tracking him and he had to flee the city, losing track of his target.

"I didn't get to play truth or dare, it was a big kids game and 'little squirts like me wouldn't be able to handle it'" she made quotation marks in the air with her fingers.

"Do you wanna play or not?" he snapped, not interested in being lectured.

"Fine, you first." Cana replied, glad he had some of his snark back.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth." he paused, thinking of a valid question.

"Alzack or Freed?" he asked, smiling at how immature this game was.

"Definitely Alzack."

"But he would always be pinning after Bisca behind your back. At least Freed would be committed." he grinned into his drink at his own joke.

"To an asylum for the clingy, plus Alzack is way cuter." she leered, glancing around the room. Laxus shook his head, disappointed at himself for getting reeled in.

"It's your go."

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth" Cana grinned evilly, already knowing what she was going to say.

"Is it true that when you were, wait how long ago was it again?" she asked rhetorically, frowning. "Oh right, that was the year Gray got that massive fine for indecent exposure on council premises, so you would have been seventeen." She smiled, obviously pleased with herself, Laxus however was not so interested in her epiphany any turned back to his drink. "Anyway, back to the question. Is it true you kissed Ever but she turned you down?" Cana smirked at his reaction, his cold glare and flushed cheeks told it all.

"Where did you hear that?" Laxus growled, he thought that escapade had been long forgotten.

"The good thing about being the guild drunk is that when people are at their most vulnerable, I'm always at the bar beside them. Freed is such a well of knowledge, you wouldn't believe the things I got out him." Cana smiled suggestively which caused Laxus to shuffle on his stool.

"Freed doesn't drink." Laxus mumbled, more to himself than to Cana.

"Oh you think I'm bluffing." Canna giggled at his unease, hoping to make the moment last before his signature scowl reappeared. "Freed doesn't drink….. normally. But when one is severely upset after losing a much loved friend and stuck in a moral dilemma after causing serious harm to almost all of his nakama, why wouldn't a man turn to booze?" Laxus seemed unsettled at her comment, but she pushed on none the less, hoping to get some sort of revenge for last night.

"Prove it. I don't believe that Freed would allow himself to get that drunk in the first place without Ever or Bixlow with him." Laxus said but he didn't look too sure.

"Oh they were there, but Ever passed out so Bixlow took her home, to his I'm guessing." Cana took a sip of her drink, enjoying the show. "Which left Freed all alone to the mercy of anyone."

"So of course someone like you took advantage of him." Laxus scowled, starting to sweat. What could Freed have told her that made her so confident?

"And finally Laxus shows his true colours!" Cana raised her hands above her head and mouthed " Hallelujah" repeatedly. Cana smiled, staring straight at Laxus. "Stop avoiding the question. Did you or didn't you?" she asked, a smirk pulling at her lips.

"It was five years ago, and it was barely a peck. Plus she didn't turn me down." Laxus was beginning to fume and Cana was loving every minute of it.

"That's not the way I heard it. Allegedly you set up a secret rendezvous in the archives where you kissed her or rather tried to kiss her and she turned you down."

"What does it matter anyway, I was seventeen and had a crush on a pretty girl. I'm twenty-two, I think I've earned the right to move on from a mistake five years ago!" Laxus roared, fed up with her taunting.

"Says who Sparky?" Cana asked, unable to keep the smirk off her face.

"Don't call me that." he snapped, angry he had taken the bait.

"Anyway, your go." Cana said, wanting to keep the conversation rolling.

"Truth or dare?" Laxus asked, not impressed with the conversations turn.

"Truth." Cana said, not willing to get caught up in some moronic dare. Laxus stared at Cana, trying to think of s valid question but came up with nothing. He thought about their discussion when an idea hit him.

"Ok, it's sort of two questions but it's the only thing I can think of." he said, waiting for her nod to continue. "How did you know I was going to run away that day and why did you come after me so…. persistently?" he asked.

"That question doesn't have an answer you want to hear Sparky." he let go the mention of that dreaded nickname because of her all round seriousness. Laxus felt a ball start to build in the bottom of his stomach.

"Don't try and get out of answering- Cana." Laxus said, intent on hearing the truth. Cana put down her empty mug on the bar and shuffled around to face him full on.

"When I was little, I came to the guild looking for Gildarts." she said calmly. "But since I never got around to telling him when he came in, I tried to integrate myself into the guild but there wasn't anyone I ever felt particularly comfortable around. I guess I started looking for people who had similar reasons for being in fairy Tail as me." Cana looked down. "One day I heard Macco and Waccaba talking about your dad and I guess I started paying attention to you a lot more."

"You started stalking me because my dad is a pshyco?" Laxus asked, not really comprehending what she meant. Cana had always been in the background when she was little, she never really….

"No, no I meant that we were in the guild for similar reasons," she said quickly. "we were both there because of family."

"Yeah, but so is everyone in the guild. Natsu has Igneel, Mira and her siblings, Lucy has her dad…" he said.

"I know, I guess I meant parents. I was there looking for my dad and you were staying for gramps." Cana said, wishing for the umpteenth time he had asked any question but that.

"I was staying for a lot more than just gramps." Laxus said, letting himself really think about Fairy Tail, in all its complexity for the first time in months.

"I was eight, Laxus, and I was lonely." Cana sighed, "I saw what I wanted to see." Laxus looked at her, really looked at her for the first time in years. She had bags under her eyes, her skin was devoid of its natural colour which was only to be expected after the week she had endured. Her arms were coated in thousands of tiny scratches, her signature bikini top covering her chest. Her shorts hid the bottom half of a large purplish bruise that ran down the length of the right side. Her legs were bruised and torn more savagely. But what caught Laxus' attention most were her eye's, they were so sad, like the world held nothing for her anymore and she was just waiting for death. "Anyway, I started watching you when you were in the guild. Eavesdropping when you were talking or when someone was talking about you. When someone brought you up in a conversation with the Master, he was so proud, he kept talking about all the things you'd done, that you would grow to be a fine mage despite all his failings." she smiled sadly, not wanting to drive the knife any further but she had to in order to answer properly. Laxus seemed to be going into some kind of state of shock. "But you, you didn't want to be the Masters grandson, you just wanted to be judged by your own merit. Which was completely right, but I was young and I couldn't understand why you wanted to throw away what I wanted so badly. So I watched you closer, I tried talking to you more to see if I was missing something important that would make me understand why, but of course I didn't"

Cana stopped and looked right into Laxus' eyes. He couldn't believe that he missed her studying him for all those years. All those times he went away with Gildarts like all of the other kids on fishing trips, or pushed gramps aside, or fought with the guild, she saw it all. How didn't he see her?

"I heard the adults talking about how you were attacked by an army of lava monsters conjured by some dark mage. You were able to defeat most of them but a few broke through and destroyed the village which was protecting a sacred gem that was one of the keys to reviving some demon. I knew that you would be more than a little upset so I tried to find you around the guild. Back then you liked sulking in the archives so I went down there but you weren't there. I couldn't go into the dorms so I went to the entrance and asked Macco to look for you but you weren't there. So I guessed that you would rather leave than bring shame to Fairy Tail so I ran as fast as I could to the train station. I spotted you and knew I had to bring you back. I wasn't going to let you just throw away everything I wanted in the world just because you went on a bad mission. And you know the rest." Canna filled her drink, grateful it was over. Laxus continued to stare at her, bewildered that she had actually told him the truth, there was no way she was lying. Laxus felt tears stinging the back of his eyes. Before he could think about what he was doing he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her off her stool. Cana stiffened in surprise.

"Laxus?" she mumbled into his fur coat that was making breathing difficult.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see…" Laxus whispered so quietly that she almost missed it.

"Laxus, I think you're taking this a little too seriously." she said, trying to pull back. "It was just a stage, I realised that you weren't what I had built you up to be, it's fine, really." Laxus let go of her, but he didn't back away, he just looked down at her. After a long moment Laxus sat down.

"Sorry, I guess the hundred days thing affected me more than I thought." he said into his drink, heat rising to his cheeks. As his words sunk in Cana realised the reason he was in that pub last night, the one hundred day anniversary of his expulsion.

"Laxus, I'm sorry, I didn't realise. If I had known I would have….." Cana stopped, not knowing what to say.

"Lied?" Laxus smiled sadly. "Like you said, it was my own stupid fault. Anyway your go."

"Truth or dare?" Cana asked, not sure how to act.

"Dare." Cana paused before grinning mischievously.

"Take off all your clothes, right here, right now." Laxus choked on his drink, was she joking? Bringing the mug away from his mouth he wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

"Are you serious?" he asked, eyes wide.

"Yeah, Freed said something that can only be proven by inspection." she grinned at his dumbstruck face.

"Can't, they have a strictly no stripping rule here." he nodded towards the wall where an obscure sign noted the rules of entry.

"Gray wouldn't last long here then, huh?" she laughed. "Oh well, looks like I'll have to settle for something a little less…. riske. Hmmm, how about, I dare you to carry my bag till I get on the train back to Magnolia, deal?" she asked, hoping he'd take the bait. She had cast a high level condensing spell to get everything into her bag for the job, but the spell didn't alter the weight of the object.

"Yeah, whatever. Truth or dare?"

"Dare." Laxus grinned, glad the mood had lightened

"I dare you…... to kiss me." it was Cana's turn to choke on her drink as she turned wide eyed to Laxus.

"What?" she spluttered.

"You heard me." he grinned " You have too much pride to actually do it and then we get to play a penalty round" As if he was going to take carrying her suitcase lying down. Cana realised his ploy but was determined to get him to carry the damned suitcase, even if she had to kiss him. Laxus realised she was going to do it when he saw the familiar expression on her face.

"Too much pride? Your talking to the guild drunk here, nothing is below me." she laughed at his shocked face as she began to lean in.

"You know the rules, on the lips. You know you don't want to kiss me, just back down." he reasoned.

"I wont back down, I'm a Fairy Tail Mage." she slipped down off the stool and moved towards him, her hands cupping his face. Heat flooded to her cheeks as she scrunched her eyes shut and pulled his face towards hers. Laxus panicked, if he backed down now he would be the subject of a penalty round, he cursed himself for suggesting this damned game. Before he could unfreeze her soft lips were on his, pushing harder and harder until he had no choice but to open his mouth. His hands were on her hips, drawing her near, their tongues mingled, tasting and testing the others mouth.

Cana dropped her hands away from his face, letting them hang lifelessly at her sides. She pulled away, breathing heavily, his hands dropped from her waist, his grey eyes wide. Cana stepped back, pulling herself back up onto the barstool, ignoring a few wolf whistles that were soon silenced by a familiar zapping sound.

"truth or dare?" Cana asked, desperate to distract herself from what she just did.

"truth"

"Why, did you leave….. Without saying goodbye?" Cana's voice shrunk to a whisper. Laxus froze, not wanting to admit the answer he had been running from since his expulsion.

"Because I couldn't face everyone. Not after what I did…. " His reply was as quiet as hers. "I brought shame to the name of Fairy Tail, and I hurt my nakama. It's unforgivable…"

"It's not unforgivable Laxus," she paused, looking for the right words to describe the guilds feelings. "they were hurting, we all were for a long time, but that wasn't really because of what you'd done, it was because we'd lost you in the process." she smiled up at him, hoping that he understood. Without meeting her eye he glanced at the clock.

"It's just about time to leave, you'd better finish up the barrel, I'll go fix up the bill." he trudged off in the direction of the kitchen door. Cana did as she was told, finishing off the last mugful of beer and gathering her things around her, ready to depart.

Laxus wandered over and slung her suitcase over his shoulder, surprised by it's incredible weight. He chuckled quietly, amused at how she had conned him.

"You ok, with the suitcase back there?" she called over her shoulder as she exited the stairway.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't know how you could have possibly dragged this thing around with your puny arms."

"I coped just fine thankyou." She wasn't going to take the bait. She fell in behind Laxus as they weaved through the streets. She couldn't help but notice how his muscles flexed as he moved, she shook her head, trying to clear her mind.

"We're nearly there." he called over his shoulder. They turned a corner and suddenly came out onto the main road adjacent the station. Cana walked forward with Laxus now falling behind her. She approached the ticket booth and bought a one way ticket to Magnolia. After handing over the money she walked to a bench and nodded for Laxus to sit next to her.

"Are you going to tell the old man?" Laxus asked, suddenly nervous that their time together had gone too fast.

"Not if you don't want me too, but I'd rather tell him." she looked up into Laxus' eyes. "Banishing you broke his heart, and he worries so much."

"Ppfft, as if I care, but don't spread it around. I don't want the tribe coming after me and wrecking their chance…" he looked out over the train line, refusing to meet her eye. They could hear the rumbling of the train in the distance. As it got closer a tension built between them.

"Laxus?"

"Yeah?"

"Stay safe ok?" he stopped avoiding her gaze as the train pulled up. "On the honour of our guild promise me you'll stay safe and come back to Fairy Tail!" She cried out as the train's noise fought to drown out her voice.

"Cana, I'm not in Fairy Tail anymore." he was shocked at her outburst.

"Once a fairy tail mage, always a fairy tail mage." She jumped up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders before quickly letting them drop. "On the honour of our guild?"

"I swear on the honour of Fairy Tail." Laxus repeated the words he had said many times over the years. She grabbed the handle of her suitcase and dashed onto the train, turning back to wave. The doors shut and the train began to move once more, leaving Laxus alone on the platform watching the train hurdle away.